Sheet stacker



Dec. 3, 1946. D. P. GLUSH VETALY I 2,412,085

' SHEET STACKER Filed Sepf. 17, 1942 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 DAN/E4 F? 62 05/1 x Ji/z/us ,4. Cznuss Dec. 3, 1946.

D: P. GLUSH ETAL SHEET STACKER Filed Sept. 17. 1942 3 sheetsqsheet 2 DAN/4 1Q GLUSH Jul/us ,4. 044065 flaw 6"7 may Dec. 3, 1946.

D. P. GLUSH ET AL SHEET STACKER Filed Sept. 17, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet '3 O 0 N1. 0 .o \N m C G g Q vow vw W Q n W 1 I $1 ums III hm mm. m w. H .1; 0 v a n. w v 3% a 0 L a. N w R, Q 0 av a 3 m n v o -m H m H- 1 HM w zgmku $1 R. m 8w. mu

Patented Dec. 3, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE srmnr srscmm Daniel P. Glush and Julius A. Clauss, Detroit,

Mich., assignors to National Steel Corporation, v a corporation of Delaware Application September 17, 1942, Serial No. 458,746

. 18 Claims. 1

This invention relates to sheet handling or piling apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for stacking metal sheets or plates uniformly in a pile or stack as they are delivered from a sheet handling operation.

' An important object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for piling sheets and which is operative to pile sheets evenly with their lateral and end edges in vertical alignment so that the finished pile of sheets presents the appearance of a rectangular block having smooth and even faces. The ability of the apparatus to form a smooth and even pile of this character is of great utility when the piled sheets are to be subsequently annealed as the danger of burning the edgesof projecting sheets during the annealing process, which is always present when the sheets are unevenly piled, is thereby eliminated.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a machine for piling sheets which is readily adjustable to accommodate sheets of different widths and lengths and which is of relatively simple construction and not liable to get out of order under conditions of use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following detailed description proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a piling apparatus embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a. side elevation thereof. a

Figure 3 is an end view of the piling apparatus looking in the direction opposite to the direction in which the sheets move from the slitting machine.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Figure 1, the sheet slitter (not shown) which may be of any conventional form is stationed at the left of and closely adjacent the piling apparatus generally designated by the numeral Ill. The piling apparatus comprises a plurality of side frames ll, l2, l3 and I4 mounting a plurality of rollers l5 forming'a roller type floor conveyor. As seen in Figures 1, 3 and 5, two sets of floor conveyors are provided, one'set comprising frame members I l and I2 together with a plurality of rollers l5 and the other set comprising frames l3 and I4 together with a plurality of rollers l5.

Adjacent the entrance side of the apparatus there is provided a supporting rod l8 suitably 2.. supported in brackets I1 and IS. A pair of resilient members l9 are slidably and pivotally mounted by means of slidable hinge members 54 on rod l6 and a more detailed description of the construction and function of these resilient members will appear as the description of the apparatus proceeds.

'Located between the two sets of floor convey ors and suitably supported .thereabove is a rail or guide member 20 on which the margins of the sheet adjacent the slit edge are adapted to ride as the two sections of the slit sheet emerge from the slitter. The rail 20 is suitably supported at its forward end by a vertical supporting post 2| secured to a. horizontal beam 22. At its other end rail 20 is supported by a bracket 25 which in turn ,is suitably supported on or adjacent the slitter.

A pair ol'supporting rods 23 and 24 are mounted at each side of rail 20 and run substantially parallel therewith. Bracket 25 carries ears 26 supporting rods 23 and 24 at the entrance end of the apparatus and a pair of supporting members 21 and 28 resting on post 2| support the rods at the other end of the apparatus.

Resilient members 29 are slidably and pivotally mounted on rods 23 and 24 by means of slidable hinge members 55. A post I8 having a base member 51 is mounted on the upper flange of bee 22. Base member 51 carries a pair of spacer elements 58 slightly less in thickness than the upper flange of beam 22. By means of clamping strips 59 and bolts 60, post 56 is clamped in any desired positlon'along beam 22. As bestshown in Fi ures 2 and 5, Post 56 carries an abutment member 8| on each side. Each resilient member 29 carries a pivoted pin 30 which enters a coil spring 3|. Adjusting nuts 82 engage one end of the spring. The other end of spring 3| is connected to an abutment contact member 63, Pin 30 passes freely through contact member 63 and abutment member 8|. Adjustment nuts 82' on this end of pin 30 hold spring 3| in compression. Thus,

movement of resilient member 29 toward post 58 is resisted-by spring 3|. Although Figure 5 is a section taken at 5 -5 in Figure 1, this figure also constitutes an accurate showing looking at the opposite side of post 5!.

Referring to Figure 2; a similar arrangement provides a limited resilient movement to each of plates l 9. As seen in this figure, pin 32 is pivoted to the inner lower end of plate l9 and passes through bracket 33. Spring 34 provides the resiliency to plate l9. l

A pair of side rigid abutment members 35 are suitably supported on each side of rail 20 as clearly shown in Figure 1: The supporting framework for each pair of abutment members comprises a pair of cross bars 36 carried on the side frame members with a pair of longitudinal bars 31 adjustably mounted relative to the rail .20 on the cross bars by being welded or otherwise suitably fastened to plates 36'. The abutment members 35 are carried by the longitudinal bars 31 and by movement of these bars are adjustable to and from the rail 20. The abutment members are also movable relative to each other along bars 31. These adjustments are made possible by sliding and clamping connection of plates 38' with cross bars 36 and plates 39 with longitudinal bars 31. As indicated in Figure 1, such connection may be in the form of bolts carried by the plates and slidably received by the slots of the bars. As a result of this construction, the distance between abutment members 35 may be varied depending on the length of the slitted sheet sections or relative to the rail depending on the width. Each of the side abutment members I prises upper and lower members 4| and 42 pivotally connected to each other at 43. Upper member 4| is pivotally connected to vertical plate 38 at 44 and lower member 42 is pivotally connected to horizontal plate 39 at 45. A stop 48 on an extended portion of member 42 contacts the upper surface of member 4| to limit the downward movement of the brace 48 and thereby hold the vertical plate in operative abutment position. Upward pressure against the pivoted members 4| and 42 will cause said'members to fold on pivot point and thereby collapse plate 38 into horizontal position against plate 39.

A further pair of abutment members 41 are provided forwardly of the side abutment members 35 to form the end of each stack. Each abutment member 41 comprises a vertical plate 48 pivotally connected to a bracing post 49. A toggle brace 50 constructed similar to toggle brace 48 is pivotally connected to plate 48 and post 49 and serves to hold plate 48 in operative abutment position. Inward movement of toggle v brace 50 is limited by means of stop 5| which the pile. Thus the resilient members 29 and I9 cooperating with abutment members 35 and 41 form an even pile of sheets without any protrudingedges in accordance with the primary object of the present invention. When it is desired to remove the stack of piled sheets, toggle braces 40 curvature throughout the dimension corresponding to the maximum desired height of a stack. This curvature is preferably such that only the last few sheets on the stack are contacted by the resilient members whereby they exert the maximum possible force on each new sheet fed to the stack. Considering Figure 5, it will be noted that the weight of the sheets being stacked acting on resilient member 29 forces this member to yield continually as the stack builds up. The slight As will be apparent from an inspection of the 1 drawings, the operation of the piling apparatus is as follows: The forward end of rail 20 lies directly. adjacent the sheet slitter (not shown) and as the two slit sections of the sheet leave the slitter, the margins of the sheets adjacent the slit edge ride on the rail 28. When the sheet has passed completely past the shear, the two portions formed by the slit fall on each side of the rail. As seen in dotted lines in Figure 5, the pile of sheets indicated by the numeral 52 are stacked on skid 53 which rests on the rollers .|5. The resilient plates 29 in conjunction with the side abutment members 35 form the sides of regular piles of the resulting sheets. The end abutment member 41 forms the forward 'edge of the pile and resilient plate |9 forc "e sheets into abutment with member 51 to form the rear edge of curvature of resilient member 29'along the height of the stack results in an increasing degree of compression in spring 3| as the height of the stack increases. If the curvature of resilient member 29 is too greattoo much movement of spring 3| and its associated members will be necessary. Thus the optimum curvature is as fiat as possible consistent with the above mentioned function of exerting maximum force on the descending sheet.

While the invention has been shown in the preferred form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is desired therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed bythe prior art or as specifically set forth in the appended claims.

We claim: l.- A sheet stacker for receiving and stacking sheets having a plurality of straight edges com prising a guide member for supporting a sheet as it moves into the stacker, a support to receive the sheets in fiat superposed position, abutment members adapted to contact a plurality of the edges of the sheet, curved members facing each abutment member pivotally mounted above the support and extending downwardly to a point adjacent the support, means acting on each curved] member to urge the lower end of the same toward.

the facing abutment member, the curvature of a curved member being not substantially greater than that required to maintain the curved member in contact with the top sheet on the stack a all times during stacking. V r

. 2. A sheet stacking apparatus for receiving and stacking the slit sections of a sheet issuing from a slitter comprising a guide member arranged to support the slit sheet sections at theslit edges as the sections issue from the slitter and arranged to separate the slit sheet sections after the section have completely passed the slittera sup-. port on each side of the guide member toreceive the slit sheet sections in flat superposed position, resilient members arranged to contact two adiacent edges of each slit sheet section to exert a a force on each said edge, and an abutment member facing each resilient member and spaced therefrom a distance not greater than the corresponding dimension of the sheet section, the force exerted by each resilient member urging the sheet sections into engagement with the facing abutment member.

y 3. A sheet stacking apparatus for receiving and stacking in separate stacks the slit sections of a sheet issuing from a slitter comprising a guide member arranged to support the slit sheet sections at the slit edges as the sections issue from the slitter and arranged to separate the slit sheet sections toward separate stacks after the sections have completely passed the slitter, a stack support on each side of the guide member to receive the separated slit sheet sections in flat superposed position, resilient members arranged to contact two adjacent edges of each slit sheet section to exert a, force on each said edge, one of the resillent members extending parallel to and adjacent the guide member, and an abutment member facing each resilient member and spaced therefrom a distance not greater than the corresponding dimension of the sheet section, the force exerted by each resilient member urging the sheet sections into engagement with the facing abutment member.

4. A sheet stacking apparatus for receiving and stacking in separate stack the slit sections of a sheet issuing from a slitter. comprising a guide member arranged to support the slit sheet sections at the slit edges as the sections issue from the slitter and arranged to separate the slit sheet sections toward separate stacks after the sections have issued from the slitter, a stack support on each side of the guide member to receive the separated slit sheet sections in flat superposed position, a resilient member arranged to contact an edge of each slit. sheet section and extending parallel to and adjacent the guide member, a second resilient member arranged to contact a second edge of each slit sheet section and extending perpendicular to the guide mem-.

her and adjacent the slitter, each resilient member being arranged to exert a force on the corresponding edge of the slit sheet section, and an abutment member facing each resilient member and spaced therefrom a distance not greater than the corresponding dimension or the sheet section, the force exerted by each resilient member urging the sheet sections into engagement with the facing abutment member.

5. A sheet stacker for receiving and stacking I sheets having a plurality of straight edges comprising a guide member for supporting a sheet as it moves into the stacker, a support to receive the sheets in flat superposed position, abutment members adapted to contact two edges of the sheet, and resilient members in opposed position to the abutment members arranged to engage other edges of the sheet to exert a force urging said two edges of the sheet into contact with the abutment members, said force being so related to the weight of the sheets being stacked that a resilient member will yield under the influence of such weight while insuring said contact.

6. A sheet stacker for receiving and'stacking sheets having a plurality of straight edges comprising a guide member for supporting a, sheet as it moves into the stacker, a plane support below the guide member to support the sheets in fiat superposed position, abutment members mounted on the support at a 90-degree angle thereto adapted to contact two edges of the sheet, and

resilient members in opposed position to the abutment members arranged to engage other edges of the sheet to exert a force urging said two edges of the sheet into contact with the abutment members, said-force being so related to the weight of the sheets being stacked that a'resilient member will yield under the influence of such weight while insuring said contact.

7. A sheet stacker for receiving and stacking sheets having a plurality of straight edges comprising a guide member for supporting a sheet as p it moves into the stacker, a plane support below the guide member to support the sheets in flat superposed position, abutment members mounted on the support at a 90-degree angle thereto adapted to contact two edges of the sheet, means associated with the abutment members for folding the same away from the finished stack, and

resilient members in opposed position to the abutment members arranged to engage other edges of the sheet to exert a force urging said two edges of the sheet into contact with the abutment members, said force being so related to the weight of the sheets being stacked that a resilient member will yield under the influence of such v weight while insuring said contact.

8. A sheet stacker for receiving and stacking sheets having a plurality of straight edges comprising a guide member for supporting a sheet as it moves into the stacker, a plane support below the guide member to support the sheets in flat superposed position, abutment members mounted on the support at a 90-degree angle thereto adapted to contact two edges-0i the sheet, toggle means associated with the abutment members for folding the same away from the finished stack, and resilient members in opposed position to the abutment members arranged to engage other edges of the sheet to exert aforce urging said two edges of the sheet into contact with the abutment members, said force being so related to the weight (if the sheets being stacked that a resilient member will yield under the influence of such weight while insuring said contact.

9.- A sheet stacker for receiving and stacking sheets having a plurality of straight edges comprising a guide member for supporting a sheet as it moves into the stacker, a plane support below the guide member to support the sheets in flat superposed position, abutment members mounted on the support at a QO-degree angle thereto adapted to contact two edges of the sheet, means for adjusting the position of an abutment member on the support with reference to the guide member, and resilient members in opposed position to the abutment members arranged to ensheets in flat superposed position, abutment members adapted to contact two edges of the sheet, and curved members in opposed position to the abutment members pivotally mounted above the support and extending downwardly to a point adjacent the support, means acting on each curved member to exert a force urging the lower end of the same toward an opposed abutment member, said force being so related to the weight of the sheets being stacked that the lower end of a curved member will be moved away from an opposed abutment member under the influence of such weight while insuring contact of thestacked sheets with an opposed abutment member. v

11. A sheet stacker for receiving and stacking sheets having a plurality of straight edges comprising a guide member for supporting a sheet as it moves into the stacker, a support to receive the sheets in flat superposed position, abutment members adapted to contact two edges of the sheet, curved members in opposed position to the abutment members pivotally mounted above the support and extending downwardly to a point adjacent the support, means acting on each curved member to exert a force urging the lower end of the same towardan opposed abutment member, said force being so related to the weight of the sheets being stacked that the lower end of a curved member will be moved away from an opposed abutment member under'the influence of such weight while insuring contact of the stacked sheets with an opposed abutment member and means for adjusting the position of a curved member with respect to the guide member. f

12. A sheet stacker for receiving and stacking sheets having a plurality of straight edges comprising a guide member for supporting a sheet as it moves into the stacker, a support to receive the sheets in' fiat superposed position, abutment members adapted to contact two edges of the sheet, means for adjusting the position of an abutment member on the support with reference to the guide member, curved members in opposed position to the abutment members pivotally mounted above the support and extending downwardly to a point adjacent the support, means acting on each curved member to exert a force urging the lower end of the same toward an opposed abutment member, said force being so related to the weight of the sheets being stacked that the lower end of a curved member will be moved away from an opposed abutment member under the influence of such weight while insuring contact of the stacked sheets with an opposed abutment member, and means for adjusting the position of a curved member with respect to the guide member.

13. A sheet stacker for receiving and stacking sheetshaving a plurality of straight edges comprising a guide member for supporting a sheet as it moves into the stacker, a support to receive the sheets in fiat superposed position, abutment members adapted to contact two edges of the sheet, and convexly curved members in opposed position to the abutment members and extending from the neighborhood of the guide member downwardly to points adjacent the support, resilient means associated with each curved member to exert a force urging the lower end of the curved member toward the opposed abutment member, said force being so related to the weight tion to the abutment members and extending from the neighborhood of the guide member downwardly to points adjacent the support, resilient means associated with each curved member to exert a force urging the lower end of the curved member toward the opposed abutment member, said force being so related to the weight of the sheets being stacked that the lower end of a curved member will be moved away from an opposed abutment member under the influence of such weight while insuring contact of the stacked sheets with an opposed abutment member, and the curvature of a. curved member being sufficient to maintain the curved member in contact with the top sheet of the stack at all times during I stacking.

15. A sheet stacking apparatus for receiving and stacking the slit sections of a sheet issuing from a slitter comprising a guide member arranged to support the sheet sections at the slit edges as the sectionsissue from the slitter, a support on each side of the guide member to receive the slit sheet sections in flat superposed position, a resilient member arranged to contact an edge of each slit sheet section and extending parallel to and adjacent the guide member, a second resilient member arranged to contact a second edge 7 of each slit sheet section and extending perpendicular to the guide member and adjacent the slitter, each resilient member being arranged to exert-a force on the corresponding edge of the slit sheet section, and an abutment member facing each resilient member and spaced therefrom a distance not greater, than the corresponding dimension of the sheet section, said force being so related to the weight of the sheets being' stacked that a resilient member will yield under the influence of such weight while insuring contact of the stacked sheets with the facing abut- 'rnent member.

16, A sheet stacking apparatus for receiving and stacking the slit sections of a; sheet issuing from a slitter comprising a guide member arranged to support the sheet sections at the slit edges as the sections issue from the slitter, a support on each side of the guide member to receive the slit sheet sections in flat superposed position, a resilient member arranged to contact edge of each slit sheet section and extending parallel to and adjacent the guide member, a second resilient member arranged to contact a second edge of each slit sheet section and extending perpendicular to the guide member and adjacent the slitter, each resilient member being arranged to exert a force on the corresponding edge of the slit sheet section, means movably supporting the first resilient member for movement in a line parallel to the guide member, means movably supporting the second resilient member for movement in a line perpendicular to the guide member, and an abutment member facing each resilient member and spaced therefrom a distance not greater than the corresponding dimension of the sheet section, said force being so related to the weight of the sheets being stacked that a resilient member will yield under the influence or such weight while insuring contact of the stacked sheets with the facing abutment member.

17. A sheet stacking apparatus for receivingand stacking the slit sections of a sheet issuing from aslitter comprising a guide member arranged to support the .sheet sections at the slit v position, resilient members arranged to contact I two adjacent edges of each slit sheet section 'to exert a force on each said edge, an abutment member facing each resilient member and spaced I therefrom a distance not greater than the corre--' sponding dimension of the sheet section, said iorce being so related to the weight of the sheets being stacked that a resilient member will yield.

under the influence of such weight while insuring contact of the stacked sheets with the facing abutment member, means movably supporting the abutment members for movement toward and away from the facing resilient members.

18. A sheet stacking apparatus for receiving and stacking the slit sections of a sheet issuing from a slitter comprising a guide member arranged to support the sheet sections at the slit edges as the sections issue from the slitter, ja

' the guide member, an abutment member facing so related to the weight of the sheets being support on each side of the guide member to rev ceive the slit sheet sections in fiat superposed pos'i wg o tion, a first resilient member arranged to cone tact an edge of each slit sheet section and .ex tending parallel to and adjacent the guidesmefih her, a second resilient member arranged tact a second edge of each slit sheet section I extending perpendicular to the guide membe'rand each resilient member and spaced therefrom a distance not greater than the corresponding dimension or the sheet section, said force being stacked that a resilient member will yield under the influence of such weight while'insuring contact of the stacked sheets with'the facing abutment member, means movably supporting the abutment member facing the first resilient-member for movement toward and away from. the

first resilient gnember and for movement along a line parallel to the first resilient member, and means movably supporting the abutment member facing the second resilient member for movement toward and away from the second resilient member.

- DAHIEL P. GLUSH. A. CLAUSE. 

